Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where the inner lining of the uterus, which is called endometrium, begins to grow outside the organ and attaches to other organs like the fallopian tubes or the ovaries. Endometriosis is an important and common cause of female infertility. It is estimated that 25 to 40 percent of all infertile cases are caused by endometriosis.

In the United States, endometriosis affects around 5 million women and accounts for infertility in 30 percent of these cases. The cause for endometriosis remains unknown although quite a few theories abound. One theory suggests that during menstruation the menstrual tissue migrates in a retrograde fashion and gets implanted near the fallopian tubes and begins to grow there.

Another theory propounds genetics as a cause for endometriosis although no genetic basis has been established as yet. However in a paper in the September 2005 issue of American Journal of Human Genetics says that potential genetic link to endometriosis may be present on chromosome 10q26.

Typically endometriosis presents as painful menstrual cramps. It also causes difficulty during normal sexual intercourse, back pain and infertility.

Endometriosis causes infertility by disrupting normal anatomy in the female genital tract. In women who have confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, the chance of getting pregnant each month is reduced between the ranges of 12-36 percent.

The main problem in endometriosis is that the rogue tissue still thickens and bleeds when the monthly periods begin. However because the shed blood has no place to go, it collects in the abdominal cavity and causes internal bleeding leading to the inflammation of the surrounding organs, leading to the formation of scar tissue.

Sometimes the scar tissue is so extensive that it literally traps the reproductive organs within it. The eggs that normally shed after each menstrual cycle are trapped in the scar leading to infertility. Researchers hypothesize that that the body's immune system recognizes the endometrium implanted outside the uterus as a foreign body and attacks it.

Sometimes this is also true of the uterine lining as well causing spontaneous abortions.

Treating endometriosis by a surgical procedure called laparoscopy is said to improve infertility. In fact a study by Marcoux S, Maheux R, Berube S, published in the July 1997 issue of the New England Journal of medicine suggests that treating endometriosis by laparoscopy doubles the rate of fertility.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) methods have also been successful in treating endometriosis. In mild or minimal forms of the disease, doctors prefer using fertility medication clomiphene to treat the disease.

Whatever the cause of endometriosis, women in reproductive age group must be aware that this condition is an important cause of infertility. They must also be aware that endometriosis is definitely treatable although it can be a difficult for them to cope with the treatment.

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Endometriosis